MADRID (AP) 鈥� Bringing the guys together for a road trip might be just what the Washington Commanders need to get the season back on track.
The Commanders (3-7) are in Madrid to face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in the NFL’s final international game of the season. They’re hoping some camaraderie and quality time together in one of Europe’s top cities can help the team end a five-game losing streak.
鈥淚 told the team that today as a group, we are coming here to actually get stronger,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday in his first news conference in Madrid. 鈥淪ome of that is connection, some of that is our practice and the way that we can do that together. But all of it will be done together.”
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the first part of us getting stronger together,鈥� Quinn added. 鈥淏ut that was the main goal, to get connected and actually get stronger during this week here together. And we think we can do that.鈥�
The Commanders are coming off a 44-22 loss at home to the Detroit Lions. Their last win was at the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5.
鈥淎s a team, I think getting away, having an opportunity to really kind of hunker down together, it鈥檚 been important, and it鈥檚 been great,鈥� quarterback Marcus Mariota said. “I think guys going to dinner, just little things like that, connecting, especially with where we are in the season, I think it鈥檚 important just to kind of step away and I think it鈥檚 been good for us.鈥�
The game is the seventh NFL game abroad this season, the most ever since the league started making a .
Daniels and Payne out
Washington remains without quarterback Jayden Daniels because of a he suffered during the team’s 38-14 loss to Seattle in Week 9. The Commanders will also be without defensive tackle Daron Payne, who was without pay by for hitting Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the second quarter against the Lions.
Quinn said Payne visited with the NFL and apologized. The coach said it was 鈥渙ut of character for him to do that. So, he wanted to be able to express his remorse for that incident.鈥�
Execution struggles
Quinn defensive coordinator duties this week. He has blamed poor execution for the team’s recent struggles.
鈥淚 do feel that way,鈥� Quinn said. 鈥淎nd the reason why, I鈥檝e seen where it hits good and I鈥檝e seen where it doesn鈥檛. So, had we not seen where we could hit the marks, I鈥檇 feel otherwise. So, that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e digging in hard on, to have this time together here on this trip to do those things, that鈥檚 important for us.鈥�
The Dolphins are also 3-7 but Mike McDaniel’s team is coming off a 30-13 home victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Pleasure vs business
Mariota said 鈥渘ever in my wildest dreams would I have imagined I鈥檇 be sitting here today鈥� after growing up in Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He said he brought his parents and brother to the game in Madrid, and many of the players were able to do some sightseeing in the Spanish capital.
鈥淵ou got to find the happy medium,鈥� he said. “We are here on business, and we have a job at hand … We understand that there鈥檚 opportunities to take some time away and to experience what Madrid has to offer, but also, we have guys that understand like, 鈥楬ey, there鈥檚 times to hunker down and let鈥檚 get things rolling and making sure that we鈥檙e ready to roll.鈥欌��
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